NFL Play-Off Betting: Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts

NFL / Andy Richmond / 16 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

Baltimore's ground game will be key

"The Colts have been winners this year but they haven’t played at a high tempo for a while now and can they just turn it on again? Manning is dealing with a one-dimensional offence and the Ravens thrive on stopping those. Baltimore have legitimate hopes of keeping this game close or possibly pulling off the upset win of the weekend."

Andy Richmond believes Baltimore have the potential to pull off one of the surprise results of the post-season

The Indianapolis Colts are beginning the post-season not having played a meaningful game in nearly a month. Many fans, and critics, feel that shouldn't be the case. The Colts, having secured the number one seeding in the AFC, felt that they should give some of their starters a break for the remainder of the regular season, consequently their stars may may be rested but the Ravens have momentum and this will be tough.

The Colts could be rusty after back-to-back losses and a week off, plus they're 0-3 in the play-offs following first-round byes since 1999. This year's path appears similar to the one they had in the 2005 season, when they started 13-0 but lost two of three before falling to Pittsburgh in the divisional round.

The Ravens won three of their final four regular-season games to qualify for the play-offs and secured an eye-opening 33-14 victory at New England. Having taken on one of the best quarterbacks in the game in Tom Brady and beaten him, they face the League MVP here in Colts QB Peyton Manning. Manning has had Baltimore's number in the last seven meetings - winning them all - but I have a feeling that things may just be about to change in that department.

The Ravens will do what they do best and that's run the ball and if it works they will control the clock and keep the Colts offence from the field. I'm sure that the Colts will try and force Ravens QB Joe Flacco to air the ball out more than he did last week but he's more than capable given the opportunity and remember he led the Ravens to the Championship game as a rookie last year. The Colts have been winners this year but they haven't played at a high tempo for a while now and can they just turn it on again? Manning is dealing with a one-dimensional offence and the Ravens thrive on stopping those. Baltimore have legitimate hopes of keeping this game close or possibly pulling off the upset win of the weekend.

Recommendation: Baltimore +6.5 @ [2.0]